Strong Hearts by Ellie Green

Author:Ellie Green [Green, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance
Published: 2019-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Some women are impressed by jewellery, others flowers, while a few will only ask for your time. For Eva, I had a different idea.

I was a little sluggish without my usual morning coffee when I boarded the 5:45am train to Melbourne. I tried to shake it off. I had a good feeling it would be worth it.

As I predicted, my body was aching from the hard labour of the day before. Even with a sound sleep behind me, I felt a little tired. I took a seat next to the window. As the train rattled its way towards the city, I let my head rest on the windowpane and my closed my eyes. I told myself I wouldn’t fall asleep. Of course, I did.

My first stop was for coffee. There was a pop-up cafe beyond the platform where I ordered a latte and a piece of banana bread. Across the road from the train station was a huge, stone church. I sat on steps and ate my breakfast. It was a few minutes before nine, so I had time before the shops opened. When I finished, I brushed the crumbs off my chest, then sent a quick text to Mina. I told her I was in Melbourne and asked if she wanted to catch up. Almost immediately, she returned my text. We agreed to meet in the chocolate shop that was her favourite.

I didn’t know exactly where I would get what I was looking for, but I knew where some gourmet food stores were. By the time I had walked there, the storekeepers were opening their doors. I walked up and down for a few minutes and then chose the shop that looked the fanciest.

Inside, the shop was decked out with a huge amount of food. Jars of preserves and chutneys lined the shelves on one side. Breads were in the middle and on the opposite side what looked like canned and dried food. At the back, I could see a glass door into another room I guessed was refrigerated.

‘Good morning,’ called the woman at the counter. She had dressed from top to bottom in white and had an impeccable grey bob.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘I’m looking for truffle oil.’

‘White or black?’

‘Sorry, what?’

‘White or black truffle oil?

‘Oh, I don’t know. Which is better?’

‘It depends on who you ask!’ She laughed.

‘One of each?’

‘Certainly. Is there something else you’re after?’

‘Maybe you can help. I’m putting together a gift.’

Ten minutes later, I walked out with two bags of food and a lot less money. I sent Mina a text to let her know I was on my way.

The chocolate shop had set itself up to sell hampers and gifts to the many companies that existed around it. The problem was that chocolate didn’t fare too well in the Australian summers. The hamper business ended quickly, but the shop became a favourite of those nearby. Hot chocolates and sweet snacks would always be a winner. I’d been a regular myself for a while.

I got there first and ordered us both mochas and a cake to share.

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